Competitors came together this weekend from all over Europe for the first of five events planned for the Magic Marine RS500 Euro Grand Prix series– and it was another unforgettable experience for the class!

Sailors travelled to Bruinisse in the Netherlands from four different countries, bringing 19 boats and a lot of adrenaline to a windy start line on day one of racing. A strong breeze built throughout the day to create near-perfect sailing conditions for the RS500.  

It wasn’t  a surprise when Dutch team Barend Hiltermann and Max Blom – also known as the ‘bad boys’ – kicked off the racing with three bullets in the first three races of the day. Last season they were virtually untouchable in high winds and this year they proved they haven’t lost their skills! However, they had to work hard for the wins with some strong competition from Olympic 470 sailor Carrie Howe and F18 World Champion Mischa Heemskerk, who delivered an impressive weekend of sailing at their first RS500 event. Strong performers in the high winds, they took a well-deserved bullet home in the fourth and last race of the day. In amongst the action were former 2010 World Champions Tim Wilkins and Heather Martin from the UK, but they were unable to take home a race win on the day.  

Swedish team Johan Rook and Malin Broberg also battled it out at the top end of the fleet, placing third in two of the races on day one. International Chairman Michiel Geerling and crew Hilde van Susante were also placed consistently in the top six boats alongside family rivals Willemijn van Susante and Nick van Alphen.

Sailing in these heavy wind conditions was a big ask, and it was a credit to the fleet that they were able to complete four gruelling races on day one of the competition. Sisters Stephanie and Chantalle Grootscholten were the only all girls team, but that didn’t matter – they were on top form as they flew around the course! Martin and Axel Johansson from Sweden showed great determination to complete all the races despite their main ratchet block going astray in race 1.

Day two of the racing brought very different sailing conditions with a maximum of just six knots of wind on the water. After sunbathing on the shore for the morning, the class eventually took to the water to squeeze in one more race before Race Officer Arky called it a day due to lack of wind. It was worth the outing for the top two Dutch teams who proved they could perform well at both ends of the wind spectrum, placing first and second. Johan and Malin sailed another excellent race and secured third position in the tricky conditions. The three Italian teams also had a chance to shine in the light wind conditions, placing their best positions of the weekend and making their coaches (who were spectating on the water) very happy!

It was fantastic to welcome yet more new faces to the fleet  and, as always with the RS500s, there was a chance for some liquid networking in the evening, with a well-stocked fridge of beer, a lot of Chinese food and a marquee with live music in the marina to head to later on. Thanks to RS500 sailors Richard Rot and Marieke Gijzel from Aquavitesse, who welcomed all the competitors (and their families) to this friendly, fun event.

The RS500 class is hugely grateful to everyone who makes the trip to these international sailing events; this weekend we were especially pleased to see the Swedish and Italian teams who made long journeys to southern Holland. Sailors left Bruinisse at the end of a fantastic weekend meeting friends new and old. Everyone was talking about the next major event – the World Championships due to be held at Lake Garda in July 2012. We can’t wait to get everyone together again for fun on (and off) the water!

Since 2010 the RS500 class has been grateful to receive active and generous support from sponsors Magic Marine.

Full results at http://uk.rs500.org/index.asp?selection=Results&Fleet=RS500&resultyear=2012   

For more pictures of the event see the RS500 Sailors’ group on Facebook

Training
The racing was preceded by a day of training held by UK Fleet Representative Tim Wilkins. The class aims to run training sessions the day before every event, where possible, helping everyone to warm up for the competition ahead and perhaps learn a few more skills to put into practice on the big day!
 
World Championships
If you need more information or any help making arrangements to come to Lake Garda please get in touch with:
Michiel Geerling, International Chairman
Tim Wilkins, UK RS500 Fleet Representative

Federico Maccari – the coach for the Italian team - can also help you make arrangements for the second Italian event to be held in Italy in October (Genoa - part of the Euro Grand Prix series)

The RS500 & RS100 fleets are off to The Netherlands this weekend for the Euro GP in Bruinisse. For more information on the event see the championships tab or the link below.

Free coaching on Friday too.

Naturally we are hugely disappointed that the RS900 has not been selected as the women’s Olympic skiff. It was recommended for selection by ISAF’s Equipment Committee who carried out the most detailed examination of all the entrants and judged it to best fit the criteria – a spectacular boat that would suit the size of sailors specified.

However, in the end the argument around the ISAF Council table focussed on the advantages of an elite skiff (RS900 or MacKay 49erFX) versus the universality offered by the 29erXX through low cost and existing distribution of the 29er hull. This focussed the voting and the MacKay won out due to its advantages of an established common platform with the men’s skiff and the fact it was liked at the trials due to its performance through being the biggest.

We at RS are proud that we met the criteria and developed an ideally suited boat that is a true credit to our own team, the suppliers involved and the RS name.

We will, of course, forever be convinced that the RS900 would have been the best boat for the women’s skiff, able to be sailed by Asian women as well as their western counterparts – affordable enough to build a wider class and develop women’s skiff sailing into a significant part of our sport. So we are genuinely sad tonight that this is not to be.

I would especially like to thank the many international sailors whose encouragement and support for the RS900 has been incredible.

We congratulate MacKay Boats on their successful selection campaign and wish the FX Class well for the future.

www.rssailing.com

New RS International Class Associations and Websites

RS boats are spreading around the world fast and a new structure for each of the Class Associations has just been launched to support this growth and enable RS sailors everywhere to join their International Association.

Any RS sailor can now join their International Association – the cost is low and it gives everyone a say in the future of their Class, plus access to a vast amount of information and some fabulous events! In countries where a National Association already exists, the fee is a little higher and automatically gives membership of both the International and National Associations.   Joining one fleet’s International Assocation gives you reciprocal membership to the other RS Associations.
We believe the launch of our new International Associations is an exciting step for the growth of our classes all around the world.

The International Associations are responsible for major event planning, maintenance of Class Rules, Class communications (including websites) and all other aspects that allow every owner and crew member to enjoy their RS. All this work creates the one-design ethos which ensures RS boats hold their value long term. It is, therefore, crucial that all RS sailors support their International Class Association by joining.

You can access and join each RS International Class Association via www.RSsailing.org – and navigate from there to the National web pages.  These new RS websites are all new and are still being tweaked; we would appreciate your comments.   They are yours so if there is anything you would like to add at any time – news, tips, photos – please let us know.   The new sites have forums – these will be the place to find the answers to your technical questions and chat with fellow fleet sailors.   They will ultimately replace the yahoo groups. The forums are linked from the UK and International websites making us a truly international community.  

Please join up.

Heather Chipperfield
heatherc@rs-association.com

I visited Fraglia vela Riva last week for a meeting about the large multi-fleet event in July.  As usual the club was very welcoming and professional but I was delighted by the environment.  Instead of the building site we saw in 2010, the rebuild of the Spiaggia degli Olivi has been completed and is now an excellent restaurant and lively night spot.  

Spiaggia is separate to the sailing club, but they are working closely together and we hope to have some lovely parties there in July.

I hope loads of you will make the journey to Riva del Garda.  It really is worthwhile!

Full details and entry form at http://www.rs500.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=358

Heather Chipperfield

We've got 12 RS100s from 6 countries, and 12 RS500s from 4 countries signed up to the 1st Magic Marine Euro Grand Prix of 2012 at La Bruinesse, The Netherlands on 12/13 May.   We know there are loads more of you intending to enter.

RS100 entry is just €20/£18; RS500 entry just £30/€27, plus €20 or £18/person for the social on the Saturday evening. However there is a late entry levy for anyone entering after 15th April - THIS SUNDAY. There is no need to pay when you enter - you can pay at registration if you prefer.

There will be free coaching on Friday 11th which must be booked in advance with your entry.

RS Sailing are offering UK sailors a fab deal. They will take out you and your boat for just £100 including your entry fee. This must be booked and paid in advance - do this on the entry form.

More information and entry form at -

RS100 - http://www.rs100sailing.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=331

RS500 - http://www.rs500.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=354

Any questions - contact me on heatherc@rs-association.com

Regards,

Heather

Lots of details and entry form at Championship site at http://www.rs500.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=358

Fraglia vela Riva is situated in beautiful and historic Riva Del Garda, in the North West corner of Lake Garda in Northern Italy.    Wonderful sailing, sunshine, pasta and friends!  The town of Riva is particularly attractive and has a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants.   For non-sailing friends, or those extending their trip, there’s lots to do including mountain biking, windsurfing, hill climbing, canyoning, beach activities, canoeing etc.

Garda is well known for being a sailing and windsurfing mecca, largely due to the thermally generated ‘Ora’ wind that kicks in from the south usually around 1200hrs, and builds regularly up to a F4+.    The racing will run from Monday to Friday, both weeks.  The RS100, 700 and 800 Europeans will be from 16 – 20 July, and the RS200 and 400 Eurocup and RS500 Worlds from 23 - 27 July.    We have arranged 2 courses with Fraglia vela Riva, and, on week one, we plan to race the RS700s and RS800s on one alongside the popular western cliffs, and the RS100s in a more central lake location to hopefully get calmer conditions and more tactical racing,   On week 2, the RS200s and RS400s will have the cliff course, and the RS500s the ‘calmer’ course.

The club has been in existence for over 80 years, and has a deserved reputation for hosting events to World Championship level. You can be sure that the race management will be spot on and the support staff are used to dealing with foreign competitors.

The social side of Garda is part of the charm of the regatta – with the Ora turning up at lunchtime, there’s no need to get to the dinghy park until 10:30, so this helps to encourage later nights. Evening entertainment usually consists of finding a lovely restaurant, then decamping to a bar to discuss the days racing. If you’re on holiday with your partner there are some lovely romantic venues.

The club will host a dinner with a DJ on one night each week.  We will make sure we celebrate the opening ceremony to the 2012 Olympics on 27 July.  The RS500s will have a Swedish and a Dutch Party, and there may be other socials arranged.  The club will serve pasta after racing each day except party night.   This is all included in your entry fee.